For ever and ever without break or decay.

When the hills are all flat

And the rivers are all dry,

When it lightens and thunders in winter,

When it rains and snows in summer,

When Heaven and Earth mingle –

Not till then will I part from you.

Anon. (China)

May You Always

May You Always

May your smile be ever present

May your skies be always blue

May your path be ever upward

May your heart be ever true

May your dreams be full to bursting

May your steps be always sure

May the fire in your soul

Blaze on for evermore

May you live to meet ambition

May you strive to pass each test

May you find the love your life deserves

May you always have the best

May your happiness be plentiful

May your regrets be few

May you always be my best friend

May you always . . . just be you

Paul Cookson

Squeezes

Squeezes

We love to squeeze bananas,

We love to squeeze ripe plums,

And when they are feeling sad

We love to squeeze our mums.

Brian Patten

Don’t

Don’t

Don’t comb your hair in company.

Don’t cross the kitchen floor in welly boots.

Don’t put the television on.

Don’t squint. Don’t get in fights.

Don’t stuff your mouth with sausage.

Don’t drop towels on the bathroom floor.

Don’t hang about with that rough crowd.

Don’t put your feet up on the chair.

Don’t use up all the paper in the loo.

Don’t scratch. Don’t twitch. Don’t sniff. Don’t talk.

Don’t stick your tongue out.

Don’t you dare to answer back.

Life is full of opportunity, says my mum.

Barrie Wade

Mother to Son

Mother to Son

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor –

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So, boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now –

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

Langston Hughes

Two People

Two People

She reads the paper,

while he turns on TV;

she likes the mountains,

he craves the sea.

He’d rather drive,

she’ll take the plane;

he waits for sunshine;

she walks in the rain.

He gulps down cold drinks,

she sips at hot;

he asks, ‘Why go?’

She asks, ‘Why not?’

In just about everything

they disagree,

but they love one another

and they both love me.

Eve Merriam

You Have a Body

You Have a Body

You have a body.